Cabinet having pressure releasable hinge



July 4, 1961 R. E. BUCHHOLTZ CABINET HAVING PRESSURE RELEASABLE HINGE 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 5, 1959 n. u L b INVENTOR.

REINHARDT E. BUOHHOLTZ Juiy 4, 1961 Filed Aug. 5, 1959 R. E. 'BUCHHOLTZCABINET HAVING PRESSURE RELEASABLE HINGE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1n LL I r a a\4 i I g '3 g L Tr i I r m 6 n a:

REINHARDT E. BUGHHOLTZ' INVENTOR.

diameter is perpendicular to said flat surface.

United States Patent 2,990,571 CABINET HAVING PRISSURE RELEASABLE Thisinvention relates to a cabinet having hinges of such construction thattheir parts may be disconnected and the door opened by pressure withinthe cabinet.

When the door can be locked it frequently happens that a child becomeslocked within a discarded cabinet and is unable to unlock the door toget out. Almost universally the doors on cabinets of this type swingoutwardly and the hinge pintles are on the outside where they cannot beremoved from the inside. Most likely one being caught in a cabinet ofthis type would not have the ability to remove the pintles to permit thedoor to open.

Therefore, it is the primary object of this invention to provide aunique door hinge which is sensitive to pressures to separate the partsof the hinge and permit the door to be opened when in its closed andlocked position by pressure from within the cabinet.

A further object of the present invention lies in the provision of adoor hinge which functions as an ordinary hinge in ordinary use but cannever-the-less have its parts separated by pressure applied at the hingeedge of the door so that the door will swing about its locked edge.

A further object lies in the provision of a hinge having separable partswhen these parts are positioned relative to each other as they would beon a door in a olosed and locked position, but which parts not separablewhen the hinge is moved from said position to a position wherein thedoor is removed from the closed position toward an open position. Toattain these objects I provide a hinge having a cylindrical pintle witha flat face on a chord thereof, a segmental cylindrical hinge memberwhich endures for slightly more than 180 of a circle so that itsparallel defining edges are spaced from each other a distance less thanthe normal diameter of the pintle but no less than the diameter of thepintle which last mentioned It can thus be seen that the hinge parts maybe separated when the hinge members are disposed in only onerelationship, but may not be separated while they are pivoted from thisrelationship.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated a preferred embodimentof my invention accompanied by an alternate form, but it should beunderstood that I do not desire to be limited to these particulardisclosures, but desire to claim the invention broad-1y, limited only asrequired by the prior art as reflected in the appended claims.

In these drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a cabinet having the hinges of thisinvention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one hinge in the doorclosed position infull line, and the door-open position in broken lines;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal cross section taken on the plane substantially asindicated at 3--3 in FIG. 1, showing the door in a closed position bybroken line and with the hinge portions separated in full line;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary horizontal cross section taken substantially ona plane indicated by line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is aview similar to FIG. 3, showing a modified species of thehinge of this invention;

FIG. 6 is a vertical diametrical cross section taken through themodified hinge as at line 6-6 of FIG. 5, and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of a motion arrestingconnector.

The hinges 9 illustrated in these drawings have leaves 10 and 11 whichare provided with screws or bolt receiving apertures 12 for securing theleaves 10 and 11 respectively to the side wall 8 and the door 13 of thecabinet C. On the vertical edge opposite to the hinge 9 the door 13 mayor may not be provided with a conventional latch 14 and handle 15.

Under normal circumstances the hinge 9 operates in the customary mannerso that when the latch 14 is released and the handle 15 is pulled thedoor may be swung about the axis of the hinges 9. If however outwardpressure is applied to the door 13 at the vertical edge to which thehinges are secured the elements of the hinge may separate to permit thedoor to swing outwardly about its locked edge so one trapped within thecabinet C may escape.

The leaf 10 is provided with an axially vertical pintle 16 which isgenerally cylindrical on its outer peripheral face 17 and has a flatsurface 18 on a chord thereof which extends for the full axial length ofthe pintle 16. An enlarged cap plate 19 is secured coaxially on thelower end of the pintle 16 to constitute a support stop as will behereinafter more particularly explained.

In the species of FIGS. 14 cap 19 may be apertured at the center or besolid without altering the function of the hinge.

The leaf 11 is provided with a segmental cylindrical hinge member 20,which is adapted to journal about the pintle 16 for hinging movementand, endures for only slightly more than 180 of a circle. The segmentalcylindrical portion is defined by parallel defining edges 21 and 22which are spaced from each other a distance less than the normaldiameter of the pintle peripheral face 17 (which diameter may beconsidered to be one parallel to the flat surface 18) and this spacingis not less than the diameter measured perpendicular to the said flatsurface 18.

Therefore it is seen that one leaf 11 when at right angle with respectto the leaf It) as shown in FIG. 3, may be readily separated by removingthe segmental cylindrical hinge member 20 from the pintle 16. I havehowever provided means for preventing accidental removal or separationof the hinge members 16 and 20 which may also serve to automaticallyclose the door supported by the hinges. To prevent accidentaldisplacement when the door is hingedly swung from its closed positionthe segmental cylindrical hinge member 20 is drilled and tapped at 23 toreceive a threaded journal bolt 24 which forms a journal for roller 25which has a peripheral V groove configuration 26. Disposed between thejournal 24 and the roller 25, is a friction clutch 27 having a taperedor conic outer surface 28 mating with a cooperating internalconfiguration 29 in the roller so that when the journal bolt 24 istightened the friction clutch increases the drag between the journal 24and the roller 25 thus frictionally retarding or arresting the rollingmovement of the roller and thus arresting the door movement.

The pintle 16 is provided with a helicoid way 3% which endures forsubstantially about the pintle 16. The roller 25 is disposed in the way30 which is provided with upper and lower V-shaped ridges 31 whichextend to the upper end thereof from a point adjacent to the lower endthereof and terminate just short of the final position of the roller 25when the hinge relationship is such that the door is in the closedposition. (-Note particularly FIG. 3, of the drawing.) At this point thelower edge of the segmental cylindrical hinge member 20 is resting uponthe cap plate 19 while the roller 25 is resting in the lower-mostportion of the helicoid way 30. The weight of the door carried by theroller 25 and the cap plate 19 effect suflicient frictional engagementto prevent lateral movement of the hinge portions under normal usage.But, when outward pressure is applied at the hinged edge of the door thefriction may be overcome and the hinge members separated as shown inFIG. 3.

Upon initial hinging movement of the leaf 11 with respect to leaf theV-shaped ridges 31 cooperates with the V-groove 26 to prevent lateralmisplacement of the hinge portion.

Since the way 30 is helicoid, during its opening movement the door iselevated and therefore the door is automatically closed by gravity, asthe follower, consisting of the journal 24 and roller 25, traversesdownwardly along the helicoid way 30 effected by the weight of the door.

The speed of movement is controlled by adjusting the frictional tensionbetween the roller 25 and its journal 24.

In the species disclosed in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 the pintle 36, instead ofhaving the helicoid way, is provided with the journal bolt 37 and aroller 38 having a peripheral V-groove 39. The segmental cylindricalhinge member 40 is provided with the helicoid way 41 having the V-shaped ridge 42 for association with the roller 38.

Instead of the close tolerance as a sleeve-bearing between the innercylindrical face 43 of the member 40, and the peripheral face 44 of thepintle 36, I provide ball bearings 45 which are carried by the member 40and roll upon the peripheral face 44 of the pintle 36. As seen in FIG. 6the helicoid way 41 is formed in the member 40 and instead of a capplate 19 the member 40 is provided with a cap plate 46 which rests uponthe upper end of the pintle 36 when in the door-closed position.

The lower end of the pintle 36 is provided with a closure 47 which isvented with an opening 48 selected to control the discharge of air fromthe chamber 49 and thus controls the closing movement of the door. Apiston 50 is associated with the cylinder forming the chamber 49 forrectilinear movement therein and is releasably secured by the segmentalbolt 51, to move axially with the member 40. It will be noted that thebolt 51 may separate laterally by withdrawing the pin 52 from the socket53, formed in the opposed segments of the bolt 51. When the door is inthe closed position this pin axis is directed toward the extremity ofthe helicoid way 41 so that the pin 52 and the journal 37 are axiallyparallel thus permitting the hinge members to separate and the door tobe opened by pressure along the hinged edge from within the cabinet C.

Having thus described my invention I desire to secure by Letters Patentof the United States the following:

1. A door hinge comprising an inflexible vertical cylindrical pintlehaving mounting means; said pintle having a flat surface on a chord ofits are extending parallel to the axis thereof; an inflexible segmentalcylindrical hinge member companion to and pivotally supported on saidpintle and enduring for slightly more than 180; said last named memberhaving axially parallel defining edges spaced from each other a distanceless than the diameter of said pintle parallel to said flat surface andno less than the diameter of said pintle perpendicular to said surface;and said segmental cylindrical hinge member having mounting meansthereon.

2. A pressure sensitve door hinge comprising a cylindrical pintle havingmeans for mounting the pintle; said pintle having a flat surface on achord of its are extending the full length thereof; a segmentalcylindrical hinge member companion to and pivotally supported upon saidpintle and enduring for slightly more than 180"; said last named memberhaving axially parallel defining edges spaced from each other a distanceless than a diameter of said pintle parallel to said fiat surface and noless than a diameter perpendicular to said surface; means for mountingsaid segmental cylindrical hinge member; cooperating means mounted onsaid cylindrical hinge member and said pintle for effecting axiallytelescopic movement of said hinge member and said pintle during hingingmovements thereof; and motion arresting mechanism for controlling thespeed of said hinging movement.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein the means for effecting relativetelescopic movement comprising a helicoid way carried by one of saidcylindrical hinge member or pintle and a follower carried by the other;said follower being disposed to follow said helical way during hingingmovement of said parts.

4. The invention of claim 2 wherein the means for effecting relativetelescopic movement comprises a helicoid way carried by one of saidcylindrical hinge member or pintle and a follower carried by the other;said follower being disposed to follow said helicoid way during hingingmovement of said parts; said follower including a roller journaled on ashaft carried by said member and disposed to roll in the way carried bysaid pintle; and said motion arresting mechanism including an adjustablefriction clutch carried by said shaft for arresting the rolling movementof said roller.

5. The invention of claim 2 wherein the means for effecting relativetelescopic movement comprises a helicoid way carried by one of saidcylindrical hinge member or pintle and a follower carried by the other;said follower being disposed to follow said helicoid way during hingingmovement of said parts; said motion arresting mechanism comprising abore in said pintle to the atmosphere; a piston receptacle in said bore;and means interconnecting said cylindrical hinge to said piston wherebymotion of said door is controlled by the size of said vent from saidbore.

6. A pressure sensitive door hinge comprising a cylindrical pintlehaving means for mounting the pintle; said pintle having a flat surfaceon a chord of its are extending the full length thereof; a segmentalcylindrical hinge member companion to and pivotally supported upon saidpintle and enduring for slightly more than and having means for mountingsaid member; and said last-named member having axially parallel definingedges spaced from each other a distance less than a diameter of saidpintle parallel to said flat surface and no less than a diameterperpendicular to said surface.

7. A pressure sensitive door hinge comprising a cylindrical pintlehaving means for mounting the pintle; said pintle having a fiat surfaceon a chord of its arc extending the full length thereof; a segmentalcylindrical hinge member companion to and pivotally supported upon saidpintle and enduring for slightly more than 180 and having means formounting said member; said last-named member having axially paralleldefining edges spaced from each other a distance less than a diameter ofsaid pintle parallel to said fiat surface and no less than a diameterperpendicular to said surface; and means for effecting hinging movementof said hinge by gravity and including motion arresting mechanism forcontrolling the speed of said hinging movement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,624,909 Kujawa Ian. 13, 1953 2,790,992 Campbell May 7, 1957 2,797,840Gibbs July 2, 1957 2,852,802 Seby Sept. 23, 1958 2,904,823 Perrill Sept.22, 1959

